Steve King: A History Of Racism

“Where Donald Trump has employed subtext and dog whistles in the service of his anti-immigration agenda, Republican Rep. Steve King of Iowa doesn’t bother with such subtleties. Last summer, on live TV, he claimed that white people have contributed more to civilization than any other “sub-group” of people and said it is not “objectively true” that every culture is equal. Before that, he was perhaps best known for his flawed argument that for every DREAMer “who’s a valedictorian,” there are 100 undocumented immigrants with “calves the size of cantaloupes” from smuggling marijuana across the border. On Sunday, King went further, tweeting a cartoon praising the far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders, a fierce anti-immigrant and anti-Islam critic, and writing a message below: “We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.” Critics immediately seized on the post as an apparent endorsement of white nationalism, but King doubled down in an interview with CNN Monday morning, telling host Chris Cuomo, “Of course I meant exactly what I said.”

King didn’t seem to understand why Cuomo, and half the Internet, was apoplectic. “I have said the same thing as far as 10 years ago to the German people and to any population of people that is a declining population that isn’t willing to have enough babies to reproduce themselves,” King [said]. “And I have said to them, ‘You cannot rebuild your civilization with somebody else’s babies, you have to keep your birth rate up and teach your children your values, and in doing so then you can grow your population, you can strengthen your culture, you can strengthen your way of life.’”

Hosts: Cenk Uygur, Ana Kasparian

Cast: Cenk Uygur, Ana Kasparian

***

Young Turk (n), 1. Young progressive or insurgent member of an institution, movement, or political party. 2. A young person who rebels against authority or societal expectations.(American Heritage Dictionary)

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[doodelay]

Either most of Iowa knows that he's racist and is fine with it, or that state is so gerrymandered that they can't get rid of the guy.

[helpihavenoskin]

The American people were lied to about immigration in 1965 when restrictions were relaxed we were told it would "not upset the ethnic makeup" of the country and white Americans have every right to oppose diversity.

[kirkjohnson]

Somebody did a great job on the King photo in the background. Anybody know how they manipulate a photo to look like that?

[markmorgan]

In Turkey, racism and ethnic discrimination are prevalent in its society and throughout its history, and this racism and ethnic discrimination is also institutional against the non-Muslim and non-Sunni minorities. This appears mainly in the form of negative attitudes and actions by Turks towards people who are not considered ethnically Turkish. (wiki)

[sophiecostopoulos]

Why do Hillbilies think they are Europeans? They have Nascar, we have Spinoza.

[floriangeyer]

Steve King said what needed to be said! Demographics is destiny! Long Live European civilization!

[he-man]

Why haven't you guys talked about Turkey threatening Germany and the Netherlands?

[zrion]

The thumbnail they have of Steve King makes him look like he just eat a basket of mushrooms and is having the best trip of his life.

[erauprcwa]

1:58 Ana's reaction is my reaction to every Trump supporter, who still supports him and the rest of the GOP, while ignoring things like this.

[James-xgrh]

Great last line. "My evidence to the contrary is Steve King" lmao

[MissaRosa]

If he's done this many, many times, what is so surprising? He is speaking how he feels and what he has taught others. I would rather know where a person comes from than hating me behind by back and smiling in my face. He does not deserve a comment because he lets us know how he really feels.

[bgcm]

When ever you feel dumb, just know people like this exist.

[HomelessOldMan]

I am NEVER buying another Steven King book ever again.

[mooseinator]

I'm confused, in which clip was he being racist (i've rewatched 4-5 times).

[criskity]

I still don't get the "calves the size of cantaloupes" quip. Does he think Mexicans are smuggling drugs in hollow legs?

[fattyjones]

Damm Steve Bob..plzz relief the toxic drug for f... sakes!!

[joebrokenstrang]

FYI: If you look at electoral maps by county, there's a cluster of counties in NW Iowa that buck the trends of all around them by being deep red.

[fernandomontenegro]

Well, he's not the "pick of the litter" since he's been determined to be the least effective Congressman. He can't pass or write any legislation, so he's been a big failure in Congress and continues to take taxpayer money. Dude, if you are going to talk about superiority, at least be superior in some way.

[zacg_]

My guess is that Steve King probably genuinely doesn't think he's racist. But for him being racist probably requires advocating lynchings and slavery. But anything short of that can't be racist in his mind. This is a far more common attitude than I used to believe growing up.

[fargoneaccumulator]

First read that as "Steven King: A History Of Racism" & was like "Mmmm Hmmm"